STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- City Councilwoman Debi Rose and her opponent Mark Macron took reader questions as part of their wide-ranging -- and often combative -- meeting with the Staten Island Advance Editorial Board Thursday.

"It's going to take some investment on EDC and the mayor's part to make sure that that happens," she said. "We've asked for smart lights, we've asked for them to look at the use of certain streets, changing the directions. We've talked about at great length how, in fact since it is not possible to widen Richmond Terrace, what specific things we can do."

Ms. Rose said just Wednesday she had a lengthy conversation about traffic calming possibilities.

Macron said he thought there would definitely be increased traffic, though some people will arrive to the development by boat or public transit.

"I think also maybe increased use in traffic agents, having the human factor and the common sense factor," he said, would help.

He also proposed off-site parking.

"I think satellite parking, a good reliable shuttle to shuttle visitors to the outlets and the wheel, would be a good thing," Macron added.

While Ms. Rose said the development had enough parking, Macron disagreed.

"I can tell you that there are times when parking, just as a regular commuter, can be difficult," he said.

Vashti Tanzillo wanted to know why residents of Grymes Hill can't have their weekend bus service back. Ms. Rose said it was cut due to ridership numbers, but that it presented a real hardship given the topography of the area -- and how hard it is to hike up and down the hill on foot.

"I have constantly been in contact with the MTA. We have constantly reinforced that the shuttle buses, because of our topography, that this is a shuttle service that needs to be reinstated," she said. "We have Wagner and St. John's on Grymes Hill. We have a housing complex that has a large senior population."

After finding some extra money, the MTA is revisiting restoring the route, Ms. Rose said, as well as another uphill route in St. George.

"I would concur with Ms. Rose," Macron said, in one of the few areas they agreed. "I went to St. John's. When I was 20 years old it was no problem walking up Howard Avenue, but I'm 52 now -- and there are seniors up there, too. It needs to be restored."

Nancy Zubrycky, meanwhile, wanted to know what had been done to help North Shore residents and businesses hit by Hurricane Sandy -- and to make the area more resilient.

Ms. Rose said with attention focused elsewhere in the borough, she had to fight to make sure dry ice and food were directed to the North Shore, where homes were damaged and many businesses on Bay Street and Front Street were destroyed.

She said all that was offered to businesses were collateralized loans, which they found too risky to take.

"I have written a letter to Gov. Cuomo and I'm in touch with his office, and I've asked them to specifically identify grants or no interest loans to the businesses on the North Shore so they can once again get up and running," Ms. Rose said.

She's also been vocal, she said, in making sure businesses and homeowners on the North Shore pursue funding through Build it Back and programs to help businesses.

Macron said more needed to be done to protect the North Shore.

"I'm not aware of any plans now to harden the North Shore and to prevent another Sandy swamping of the North Shore," he said.

He said there should be a Brownfield study in the area -- but Ms. Rose said one is already underway.